Kärntner Straße

Vienna's principal shopping street, the Kärntner Straße runs arrow-straight through the heart of the old town, linking the great Gothic cathedral of St. Stephen with the State Opera and the Ringstrasse. Pedestrianised and always busy, it is one of the city's main arteries of commerce and promenade.

The street is ancient in origin, following the medieval road that led south toward Carinthia, from which it takes its name, and onward to Italy. Over the centuries it developed into the smart address it remains today, lined with department stores, jewellers, cafes and the flagship branches of international and Austrian brands. Its buildings mix historic facades with modern shopfronts, and side lanes lead off to hidden courtyards and churches.

Landmarks punctuate its length. Near the cathedral end stands the Haas Haus, a curving glass building by Hans Hollein that faces the medieval spire in a deliberate dialogue of old and new. Partway along, an ornate corner marks the historic Malteserkirche, and the street opens at its southern end onto the busy Opernring. Street musicians, horse-drawn fiacres and a constant flow of shoppers give it a lively, cosmopolitan atmosphere.

As a public thoroughfare it costs nothing to enjoy, and it works well as the spine of a walking tour of the inner city, connecting Stephansplatz with the Opera, the Albertina and the Hofburg beyond. Cafes with pavement seating invite a pause, and the pedestrian zone makes for easy, traffic-free strolling in any season. Whether approached as a place to shop, to people-watch or simply to move between the imperial sights, the Kärntner Straße captures the elegant, unhurried character of central Vienna better than almost any other street.